Rubber-glove sterilizer



Feb. 19, 1929.

. 1,702,673 W. B. UNDERWOOD Y RUBBER GLOVE sTERILI'zER Filed June 9, 1926 INVENTOR ATTORNEY:

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WEE DEN B. UNDEBWOOD, OF ROCHESTER,1\TEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILMOT CASTLE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RUBBER-GLOVE STERILIZER;

Application filed June 9,

The present invention relates to rubber glove sterilizers and an object thereof is to provide an apparatus in which rubber gloves used in hospitals may be sterilized insuch a manner that the rubber is not over-heated and consequently destroyed, thereby permit ting the sterilization of the gloves a maxi mum number of times and reducing the expenses of the hospital.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will behereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out in the appended clar n.

In the drz wings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rack used in the sterilizing chamber;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the underside of the rack; and

l ig. l is a view of the rack frame With the textile covering removed.

In the illustrated embodiment of the inventio'n, there is provided a sterilizing chamber l of cylindrical formation having one end closed by a door 2. Steam is admitted to this chamber through a supply pipe 3 and exhausted in any suitable manner. Within this sterilizing chamber is rem'ovably arranged the supporting means for the gloves.

In this instance, the supporting means comprises a rack having a frame formed from a rod or tube stock and provided with two horizontal side portions 4 connected at opposite ends by substantially U-shaped supporting membersfi, the end of the supporting members merging into the side bars 4. Brace rods 6 are welded at their ends to the sides of the U-shaped supporting members to prevent the spreading of the arms of, said membws. The supporting surface is formed by a sheet of pliable non-metallic and porous material, in this instance, preferably canvas or other textile material. This material is stretched between the side bars 4 as at 7, being turned about the outer sic es of said bars and under the same at its edges as at 8. The edges are, in this instance, provided with a number of eyes 9 through which a lacing strand 10 is passed to draw the two edges of the sheet material 1926. Serial No. 114,792.-

toWard each other and thereby place the upper surface 7 under a desired tension. This sheet covers the side bars so that no metal is exposed for contact by the gloves, as the contact of metal with the gloves under heat conditions will destroy the same. The braces 6 which serve as handles are situated below the supporting surface so that the gloves will not engage the same.

A glove indicated at 11 before being placed in the sterilizer has a thick porous pad of gauze introduced into it up to the fingers and the wrist portion of the glove is turned back. The purpose of the pad is to hold the surfaces of the glove apart so that steam can enter the pad freely. Without the pad, the love may collapse to such an extent as to prevent the steam from entering at all. If the gloves are handled carefully the fingers will remainopen so that the steam can enter freely. .The gloves may now be placed upon the surface 7 of the rack. The latter may be introduced into the sterilizing chamher and subjected to the steam. In placing the gloves on the rack, care should be taken that they are positioned so that they do not contact with the sides of the sterilizer. Exposure of the gloves to steamat fifteen pounds pressure for fifteen minutes will give perfect sterilization and at the same time, will allow a maximum'number of sterilizations. The glove rack holds the gloves in that part of the sterilizer where the sterilization is most quickly effected. It is desirable that only the gloves and the rack be in the sterilizing chamber during the sterilization as any other material will absorb the heat and increase the time and temperature required for perfect sterilization.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

r rubber glove supporting rack for sterilizers comprising two side bars, sup ports connecting said side barsand depend ing below the latter, a textile supporting piece extending between the side bars, around the outer sides of the latter and turned under the side bars, its edges lying between the supports, and a lacing connecting the edges of said textile piece above the bottomsof the supports for maintaining said textile piece under tension.

VVEEDEN B. UNDERVVOOD. 

